George MacDonald Fraser

George MacDonald Fraser, OBE was an English-born author of Scottish descent, who wrote both historical novels and non-fiction books, as well as several screenplays. Fraser was born to Scottish parents in Carlisle, England. His father was a doctor and his mother a nurse. It was his father who passed on to Fraser his love of reading, and a passion for his Scottish heritage. Fraser was educated at Carlisle Grammar School and Glasgow Academy; he later described himself as a poor student due to "sheer laziness". This meant that he was unable to follow his father's wishes and study medicine. In... 1943, during World War II, he enlisted in The Border Regiment. He was assigned to 9 Section, B Company, 9th Battalion in the Indian 17th Infantry Division, known as the Black Cat Division from the flashes worn by the troops. Fraser was made a lance corporal four times, but was reduced to private three times for minor offences, one of them losing a tea urn. He finally kept the rank and held it until he went to the War Office Selection Board for a commission.
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